TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Jonathan Aranda’s three-run home run in the third inning turned a one-run deficit into a lead the Tampa Bay Rays never relinquished, and the Rays defeated the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Friday night at George Steinbrenner Field.

Aranda’s blast capped a decisive three-run inning that erased a 2-0 Washington advantage and sent the Rays to their third win in four games. The Rays improved to 42-30, while the Nationals fell to 39-37 in front of an announced crowd of 17,134. The game lasted 2 hours, 17 minutes.

Washington struck first with solo home runs in consecutive innings. Shortstop CJ Abrams led off the top of the second with his 15th homer of the season, a fly ball to center field off Rays starter Griffin Jax. Two batters later, catcher Keibert Ruiz singled, but Daylen Lile grounded into a double play. Nasim Nuñez singled with two outs, then Jorbit Vivas lined out to left field to end the inning with the Nationals ahead 1-0.

In the top of the third, left fielder Luis García Jr. extended the lead with his 10th homer, a solo shot to left field. That made it 2-0 Nationals and chased Jax from the game after three innings. Jax allowed two runs on three hits while striking out three and walking none. He earned the win, improving to 2-5 on the season.

The Rays answered immediately in the bottom of the third against Nationals starter Miles Mikolas. After Taylor Walls grounded out, catcher Hunter Feduccia drew a walk. Designated hitter Yandy Díaz singled to center, putting runners on first and second with one out. Aranda then crushed a 1-0 pitch to left field for a three-run homer, his 12th of the season, scoring Feduccia and Díaz to give Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead.

Washington never recovered. The Rays added a run in the fourth inning. Second baseman Richie Palacios doubled to right field with one out, and shortstop Taylor Walls followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Palacios to make it 4-2. Mikolas allowed four runs on six hits over four innings. He walked one and struck out three, taking the loss and dropping to 2-6.

The Nationals threatened in the eighth inning. With one out, Vivas singled off reliever Steven Matz. Jacob Young reached on a fielding error by Aranda at first base, putting runners on first and second. James Wood flew out to center, advancing Vivas to third. But pinch-hitter Curtis Mead grounded out softly to first baseman Aranda, ending the inning.

Tampa Bay added insurance in the bottom of the eighth. Right fielder Jonny DeLuca led off with a solo home run to left field, his third of the season, extending the lead to 5-2. DeLuca finished 1-for-4 with the homer and an RBI. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger worked a scoreless eighth inning, and closer Bryan Baker earned his 19th save with a perfect ninth, striking out one.

The Rays’ bullpen was effective after Jax departed. Matz pitched 1⅔ innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. Kevin Kelly got one out in the seventh, allowing one hit, and Cleavinger retired three straight. Baker closed it out.

For the Nationals, Abrams and García each homered, accounting for both runs. Washington managed only six hits total. Keibert Ruiz singled, Nasim Nuñez singled, and Jorbit Vivas singled. Jacob Young reached on an error. The Nationals struck out nine times and grounded into a double play.

Tampa Bay rapped out 10 hits. Third baseman Junior Caminero went 2-for-4 with two singles. Díaz also had two hits, going 2-for-4 with a single. Palacios doubled in four at-bats. Walls drove in a run with his single. Chandler Simpson singled in the sixth, and Cedric Mullins singled and scored a run.

Mikolas struggled with command, allowing three walks. His counterpart Jax labored through three innings but limited damage. The decisive moment came in the third when Aranda turned a 2-0 deficit into a one-run lead with one swing.

The loss snapped a modest winning streak for the Nationals, who had won four of their last five games entering Friday. Washington had taken two of three from Kansas City and swept a three-game set against Seattle earlier in the week. The Nationals also had a strong stretch against San Francisco, winning two of three on the road. Their recent form included a 10-2 win over the Mariners and a 7-3 victory over the Royals.

Tampa Bay entered the game having lost four straight, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to that, the Rays had taken two of three from the Los Angeles Angels and split a series with the Boston Red Sox. The Rays’ bullpen had been a strength, and Friday’s performance continued that trend.

Washington next plays the Rays again Saturday in the second game of the series, then returns home to face the Philadelphia Phillies in a four-game series beginning Monday. The Nationals also have a road trip to Baltimore and Boston later in the week.

Tampa Bay continues its homestand with the same two-game series against Washington, then hosts the Kansas City Royals for a four-game set. The Rays then welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks before traveling to Kansas City.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Washington Nationals 6, Tampa Bay Rays 4. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tampa Bay with a 57.70 percent probability to win. Washington had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 7 went over the over/under line of 8.